There are lots of things to consider when you're not in 'your Kansas' anymore; med schedules & time zones being 2 of them for me. As a heart transplant recipient, I will take anti-rejection medications every 12 hours sharp for the rest of my life. It's not a big deal; it's become part of my … Continue reading Med Schedules & Time Zones
Tag: Chronic Illness
Illness in the House
Sadly, I am waking up to a house of illin' this morning. Everyone except me is sick with a stomach bug of some sort which is giving rise to this post. How exactly does an immune compromised wife [and] mom care for her sick family while protecting herself from catching it as well? Well, we … Continue reading Illness in the House
An Open Letter to Healthcare Providers
Although professionally, I was a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner prior to my heart transplant, I write this letter as an individual who lives with long-lasting late effects stemming from the successful treatment of Ewing's Sarcoma as a child in the late 1970's along with the daily implications of immunosuppression. Dear Healthcare Providers, I write because I … Continue reading An Open Letter to Healthcare Providers
Working Smart: Minimizing Infectious Risk
Well, cold and flu season has arrived, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to share with you steps that I take to protect my health and wellness during the winter months. The first rule of heart transplant is to avoid large crowds, especially during winter months. I, like all organ recipients, am immune compromised … Continue reading Working Smart: Minimizing Infectious Risk
Begin: Stand Up for YOU
As I posted, my one little word that I'm hoping will have a BIG impact on my heart-soul this year is 'begin'. I wanted to share an encounter I had today with a radiology group that speaks to the importance that we all begin to stand up for ourselves and stop blindly paying for services … Continue reading Begin: Stand Up for YOU
Working Smart: Grocery Delivery and/or Pick Up
Living with a chronic illness requires one to work smart, to listen to one's body, and to be flexible on a daily basis. Today, I am sharing my grocery shopping tips, tricks, and props. I really must confess that my dislike, borderline hate, of the grocery store predates my heart transplant and while I'm no fan … Continue reading Working Smart: Grocery Delivery and/or Pick Up
Self Care: Rationing my Energy
When a resource is limited, the resource is rationed; it's that simple. So, when the resource is energy, it is rationed just like other scarce resources. I ration my energy on a daily basis as a matter of self care, and some days I do a better job than others. Now, if you know me, … Continue reading Self Care: Rationing my Energy
Thanksgiving Debrief
That moment that I found myself in the hospital the week before Thanksgiving and it finally hit me; 'I can't do this'. So, I made an executive decision to cancel Thanksgiving meaning that I could not possibly host those we'd invited. My husband has an international travel component to his job as a software engineer … Continue reading Thanksgiving Debrief
Repondez S’il Vous Plait
Repondez S'il Vous Plait, French for 'please reply', is one of the most frequently violated rules of etiquette of our time. According to *Emily Post, the appropriate response to a formal invitation is to respond according to the manner indicated on the invitation itself. If no method is indicated, then a handwritten note or a … Continue reading Repondez S’il Vous Plait
Pace Yourself
When I woke up from my heart transplant, I had these wires called pacing wires that would pace my heart rate up or down depending on what was indicated at the time. There are times like the holidays that I wish I had pacing wires to slow me down when I am exceeding my limits, … Continue reading Pace Yourself
Living the Cure 